Web cutting and stacking means



June 29, 1965 F. A. LYON 3,191,472 WEB CUTTING AND STACKING MEANS Filed Jan. 21. 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N I T IN V EN TOR.

FLOYD A. LYON [W W m June 29, 1965 Filed Jan. 21,- 1964 F. A. LYON 3,191,472

WEB CUTTING AND STACKING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Ill INVENTOR.

FLOYD A. LYON June 29, 1965 F. A. .LYON 3,1 1, 72

WEB CUTTING AND STAGKING MEANS Filed Jan. 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 b so"\ FIG 3 o MOTOR4O P rm, Q -II MAM AuTo+ RETRA A KNIFE FIG 4 CLOSED SWJ I B OPEN CLOSED C sw. 4 I 1 OPEN CLOSED OPN INVENTOR.

FLOYD A.LYON

1111M BY j M TAPE United States Patent 3,191,472 WEB CUTTING AND STACKING MEANS Floyd A. Lyon, Brookville, N .Y., assignor to Hahn Instrument C0., Inc., Glen Head, N.Y. Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,251 4 Claims. (Cl. 83-61) This invention relates to means for cutting and stacking a web or tape of paper or other equivalent material. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 118,598, of the same title filed June 21, 1961 and now abandoned.

More particularly the invention relates to means for cutting a preprinted tape into equal size pieces with registration control of said cutting with respect to said printing, means to feed the cut pieces into a stack in a hopper and means to automatically maintain the stack at a predetermined level.

The present device is particularly adapted for cutting preprinted webs or tapes, such as used for cigar bands, or other wrapping tapes or hands where it is desired to feed the output of the present device into automatic banding machines.

One of the major problems in devices of this type, wherein the tape is preprinted, is to maintain the registration of the cutting with respect to the printing. This problem is complicated by creeping of the tape in the feeding apparatus which in turn is caused or atfected by variable conditions such as humidity, variations in the thickness or resiliency of the tape, etc.

The present invention provides means for mounting a roll of preprinted tape of the type having equally spaced conductive strips at the beginning or end of each printed segment. The tape is fed by means of a unidirectional clutch-brake to .a knife which is cam actuated by the driving motor. Registration of the cutting is maintained by means of feelers or switch fingers, which complete a circuit in response to the conductive strips on the tape, which circuit controls the clutch feeding the tape.

The cut blanks are fed into a hopper where they form a stack. The motor of the present device is controlled by a stack sensing finger which controls the starting and stopping of the motor so as to maintain a predetermined height of the stack. The blanks are adapted to be taken from the bottom of the stack into automatic banding machinery which is outside the scope of the present device. As the blanks are removed from the bottom the height of the stack will decrease and the present device will automatically start and operate until the stack is restored to a predetermined level.

Accordingly, -a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved web cutting and stacking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tape or Web cutting or stacking means and automatic stack height control means.

Another object of'the invention is to provide new and improved tape cutting and registering means for preprinted tapes having conductive lines printed thereon including switch control means for maintaining the sequence of operations in the event that one of the con-- ductive lines is missed by the sensing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tape cutting and feeding for preprinted tapes including means for maintaining the cutting registration with respect to the printing. l

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tape cutting and feeding means for preprinted tapes including means for maintaining the cutting registration with respect to the printing and having automatic stack control means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for feeding and stacking preprinted cigar bands.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings of which,

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side developed View of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, partly in section.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic circuit diagram.

FIGURE 4 is a series of time sequence diagrams.

Referring to the figures, the invention generally comprises a frame F adapted to mount a roll R of tape T and having a tape feeding roller 10 which is adapted to feed the tape past a knife 11 which cuts the tape and deposits the blanks B in a stack in a hopper H. The hopper has an aperture at the bottom from which the blanks may be removed by automatic banding apparatus which is outside the scope of the invention.

The tapes are preprinted with labels or other information and have conductive strips C between the printing. Registration is maintained by means of the contact fingers 6 which are accurately spaced from the knife and which are connected to complete a circuit through the conductive strips and which are connected to control the operation of the roller 10 as will be explained.

Means are provided to maintain the stack at a predetermined level comprising feeler 2 which operates switch means 5 and 2 which are connected to operate switch means to start and stop respectively the operation of the motor as will be explained.

More specifically referring to the figures, the roll of tape R is mounted on a shaft 20 mounted on the top of the frame F. A guide roller 21 is mounted on the end of an arm 22 which is pivotally mounted on the frame. The arm 22 is spring loaded by means of the spring 23 so that the roller 21 rides along the edge of the roll R to restrain the tape. The tape then passes around a tensioning roller 24 which is mounted on an arm 24' which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 20. The arm 24' is spring loaded by the spring 24a. The tape then passes down past a. fixed guide 25 mounted on the frame and past an adjustable guide 26 which is pivotally mounted on the frame and spring loaded by spring 26' against the drive roller 10. The drive roller 10 is driven in one direction only a predetermined amount each cycle by means of the magnetic clutch-brake 30 which is mounted on the frame, the roller 10 being mounted on the shaft31 (FIGURE 2) of the clutch-brake 30. The clutch-brake has an input gear 32 which meshes with a large gear 33 mounted on the shaft 34 which is mounted on the frame.

Fixedly connected to the shaft 34 is a driving arm 35 having a slot 35. Slidably connected to the slot 35' is a connecting member 36, the other end of which is pinned to an eccentric cam 37 which is mounted on the motor shaft 38 of the motor 40 which is fixedly mounted on the back of the frame plate by means of a mounting bracket.

The knife 11 is pivotally mounted to the frame plate F and extends through an aperture 41 therein. The knife is oscillatably mounted so that it can move down in FIG- URE 1 against the fixed knife edge 42 for the purpose of cutting the tape. The knife is actuated by means of a member 43 pinned to the knife.

The other end of the member 43 is pinned to an arm 44 which is pivotally mounted on the back of the frame by means of the stud 45. The other offset end of the arm 44 has a cam follower 46 which bears against the cam 47 on the motor shaft 38. The arm 44 is spring loaded by means of the spring 44a so that the cam follower will bear against the cam 47 with spring pressure. The cam 47 is cut to actuate the arm 44 to oscillate the knife to cut the tape at predetermined intervals.

Cams 47 and 47' are integral and adjustably mounted on the collar of cam 37 by a set screw. Cram 37 is mounted on the shaft 38 for instance, by set screws in conventional manner or by other conventional means.

The contact fingers 6 are .ad-justa-bly mounted on the frame F as follows: A long threaded shaft 65 is mounted on blocks 66 and 66' connected to the frame. A threaded block 67 is mounted to travel on the threaded shaft 65 and a slit mounting block 68 is pivotally and adjustably mounted to the block 67 by means of the shaft 69. The block 68 is rotatably mounted with respect the shaft 69 to adjust the tension on the fingers 6 and may be clamped in position by means of the screw 70. The registration of the fingers is adjusted by turning the knob 71, thereby turning the threaded shaft 65 and causing the block 67 to travel up and down, there-by moving the fingers up and down.

The hopper H is adjustably mounted on the frame by means of the L-shaped plate 75 which is mounted for adjustment up and down by means of the slots 76 and 77 in frame F. The adjustment screw 78 having knob 79 is mounted in threaded bracket 80 connected to the frame and is connected to move plate 75 up and down. It is locked by bolt 82 which extends through the slot 76. The lock-ing bolt 83 extends through slot 77 in the frame and through a corresponding hole in the hopper mounting plate 75.

The hopper side members are bolted to the member 75 through the slot-s 84 and 85 to provide horizontal adjustment of the hopper.

Referring now also to FIGURE 3 showing the circuit, switch senses when the stack is low by means of feeler 2 and turns on the motor by completing the circuit through the mot-or relay control 51. The control 51 closes contacts 50 to start the motor and the contacts 60 which act as a holding circuit through the parallel connection of switches 2 and 3. Control 51 also opens motor brake contacts 50' at the same time.

Switch 2 is connected to feeler 2' which oscillates with the knife off and on the top of the stack. Switch 2 fails to close when the stack reaches a predetermined height which stops the motor.

Switch 3 is called the stack sensing by-pass switch and is connected in parallel with switch 2. Stack sensing means 2 is oscillated by the knife 11. By-pass switch 3, connected in parallel with switch 2, is cam operated by cam 47' to hold the circuit complete while switch 2 is open solely due to the oscillation motion during a part of the cycle. The motor 40 stops when both switches 2 and 3 are open. This opening of switch 2 is caused by the stack reaching a predetermined height.

Referring also to FIGURES 3 and 4, switch 1, called the reset switch, is mounted on the back of the frame F underneath the arm 44 so that it opens contact once each cycleafter the arm 44 moves downwardly to lift the knife from the tape after the tape has been cut. The clutch is normally engaged to move the tape and switch 1 is normally closed. The finger switch 6 circuit then disengages the clutch and engages the brake and therefore, stops the band for correct registration and the knife cuts the band. As the knife rises switch 1 opens and starts the band moving. Switch 1 is opened by recess 4-7 in cam 47. If the switch 6 misses for any reason,

3 switch 4 will stop the band immediately thereafter, but the cut will .be incorrect. The purpose of switch 4- is to prevent the clutch from moving the tape backward for one half cycle. Then if the switch 6 makes the next contact correctly on the next conductive mark, that cut will be correct.

Switch '4 is mounted on a bracket on the back of the frame and is adapted to be actuated by the cam 37. This switch is called the clutch by-pass switch and it is connected in parallel with the contact fingers 6 which sense the proper registration. The purpose of the switch 4 is that in the event that there is a miss, that is, no sensing on the tape by the fingers 6, then the operation is continued so that the fingers 6 can pick up on the next cycle and the clutch output drive is prevented from oscillating. Switch 4 is cam operated so that if the fingers miss, that is, fail to sense the conductive printing, then the circuit will be completed immediately thereafter by switch 4. This arrangement is useful where the fingers may miss one line C but may pick up on the next one. The switch 4 also prevents oscillation of the clutch output drive which would occur if the finger contacts remained continuously open. This condition would cause a creeping of the paper and subsequent jamming.

More specifically, referring to the circuit of FIGURE 3 the motor 46 is connected across the line voltage by means of the relay contacts which are connected to be operated by the relay cont-r01 coil 51. The magnetic clutch-brake 30 is connected to be energized through the relay contacts 52, 52 which are operated by the relay control coil 53. DC. power is supplied to the magnetic clutch-brake through the rectifier 54, the input of which is connected to'the line voltage.

. The motor control relay coil 51 is energized through the transformer 55, the input of which is connected across the line. One side of the secondary is connected to a manual-automatic switch 57, which is a double-pole, double-throw switch. When the switch 57 is in manual position the push :button jog switch 58 is connected in series to operate the motor control relay coil 51. The purpose of this is to make small adjustments of the tape position.

Normally, the switch 57 is in the automatic position shown, and the circuit through the motor control relay coil 51 is completed through the stack sensing switch 5. Therefore, when the stack has decreased past the predetermined adjustable point the switch 5 will make contact completing a circuit through the relaycoil 51 which closes the contacts 50 to energize the motor 40. Coil 51 also energizes holding contacts in series with the parallel connection of switches 2 and 3. When the stack has built up to a predetermined point the switch 2 will open, causing the reverse process and stopping the motor. Motor control by-pass switch 3 is connected parallel with the stack sensing switch 2, as previously explained.

The clutch-brake 30 control relay coil 53 is connected through the reset switch 1 and the contact finger switch 6 a to the other side of the line. The reset switch 1 is closed only through the clutch-brake 30 by means of the linkage,

comprising the slotted arm 35 connecting member 36 and the motor driven eccentric 37. However, this motion will not be transmitted to the roller unless the clutch relay is actuated by the reset switch 1 and the feeler switch 6 in series.

Clutch by-pass switch 4 is inparallel with finger switch 6 and is cam operated to close just after the fingers 6 are supposed to close. Therefore, if the fingers 6 miss a mark C the clutch by-pass switch will keep the tape moving forward as previously explained.

More specifically the switch 4 keeps the tape from oscillating. If the switch 4 was not in the circuit and switch 6 missed, then the normally engaged oscillating clutch would cause the tape to oscillate.

The magnetic clutch-brake is normally engaged to move the tape. The switch 1 is normally closed as the knife starts to move down. The finger switch 6 then senses the mark on the tape and closes the circuit through the coil 53, switch 6 and switch 1. The operation of the coil 53 disengages the clutch and engages the brake. The knife then cuts the tape. As the knife rises, by the cam 47 action, the switch 1, opened by recess 47', starts the tape moving again.

If the switch 6 missed for any reason, the switch 4 is preset to stop the band immediately thereafter and the tape will be cut by the knife incorrectly. However, on the next cycle the switch 6 will make the correct cut. If the switch 4 was not in the circuit, then if the switch 6 missed, the tape would be reversed in direction and drawn backwards. If the switch 4 was not in the circuit and the switch missed several times, the clutch would oscillate because the clutch is continuously driven and would be continuously engaged to the tape. Switch 1 is closed during most of the cycle by cam 47 action.

FIGURE 4 shows a series of the time sequence diagrams. In FIGURE 4:

Diagram A shows the operation of the knife.

Diagram B shows the operation of switch 1. The switch is opened by the recess 47a of the cam 47.

Diagram C shows the operation of switch 4 which is operated by cam 37. The switch cam 37 is preset to operate switch 4 immediately after switch 6 should normally operate.

Diagram D shows the operation of switch 6 which is operated by a conductive line on the web.

Diagram E shows the motion of tape. The tape stops by the closing of switch 6 or if switch 6 misses by the closing of switch 4. The tape is started by the opening of switch 1 which is operated by the recess 47a in the cam 47.

Many modifications may be made by those who desire to practice the invention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. Web cutting and feeding means comprising;

a frame,

means to mount a roll of printed tape of the type having a continuous surface and conductive registration marks,

magnetic clutch drive means on said frame adapted to advance said tape,

a motor,

oscillating means connecting said motor to said clutch drive means,

a knife oscillatably mounted on said frame and adapted to cut said tape,

adjustable means connecting said motor to said knife,

and means responsive to registration of said printed tape to control said drive means,

comprising a pair of finger contacts adapted to com plete a circuit through said registration marks and a first switch in series with said contacts, said switch being operably connected to said knife,

said contacts being connected to disengage said magnetic clutch and stop said tape,

and safety switch means to keep said tape feeding forward if said contact fingers misses a registration mark comprising,

a second switch in parallel with said finger contacts,

and cam means connected to close said switch immediately after the predetermined operation time of said finger contacts.

2. Web cutting, feeding and registration means for tape of the type having conductive registration marks thereon comprising;

a frame,

magnetic clutch drive means on said frame adapted to advance said tape,

a motor,

oscillating means connecting said motor to said clutch drive means,

a knife oscillatably mounted on said frame and adapted to out said tape,

adjustable means connecting said motor to said knife,

and means responsive to registration of said printed tape to control said drive means,

comprising a pair of finger contacts adapted to complete a circuit through said registration marks and a first switch in series with said contacts, said switch being operably connected to said knife,

said contacts being connected to disengage said magnetic clutch and stop said tape,

and by-pass switch means to keep the tape feeding forward if said contact fingers misses a registration mark comprising,

a second switch in parallel with said finger contacts,

and cam means connected to close said switch immedi ately after the predetermined operation time of said finger contacts.

3. Web cutting and feeding means comprising;

a frame,

means to mount a roll of printed tape of the type having a continuous surface and conductive registration marks,

clutch drive means on said frame adapted to advance said tape,

a motor,

oscillating means connecting said motor to said clutch drive means,

a knife oscillatably mounted on said frame and adapted to cut said tape,

adjustable means connecting said motor to said knife,

means responsive to registration of said printed tape to control said drive means,

comprising a pair of finger contacts adapted to complete a circuit through said registration marks and a switch in series with said contacts, said switch being operably connected to said knife,

said contacts being connected to disengage said clutch and stop said tape,

and safety switch means to keep the tape feeding forward if said contact fingers misses a registration mark comprising,

a switch in parallel with said finger contacts, and cam means connected to operate said switch immediately after the predetermined operation time of said finger contacts.

4. Web cutting and stacking means of the type having means to mount a roll of tape which has successive printed portions of equal size, said portions being separated by conductive lines comprising;

a frame,

roller means on said frame adapted to pull said tape,

a unidirectional clutch connected to drive said roller,

a motor,

an adjustable linkage connecting said motor to said clutch,

a knife oscillatably mounted on said frame and adapted to cut said tape,

a hopper adjustably mounted on said frame below said knife and adapted to receive blanks cut from said tape,

stack height sensing means mounted in said hopper and adapted to sense the height of the stack of said blanks in said hopper, said stack sensing means comprising an oscillating feeler connected to said knife, and switch means mounted on said feeler means,

control means connected to said stack sensing means to start and stop said motor,

and registration control means responsive to said conductive lines to control the operation of said clutch.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stohr 83371 Fitzgerald 83-74 Weber 83-61 Marsh 83371 Baer 242 ss.12

2,742,963 4/56 Klauss et al. 83575 3,044,508 7/62 Sherman 8.3-371 3,l)75,493 1/63 Cerasani et al. 83--371 FOREIGN PATENTS 521,995 3/55 7 Italy.

ANDREW R. J UHASZ, Primary Examiner. LEON PEAR, HUNTER C. BOURNE, JR., Examiners. 

1. WEB CUTTING FEEDING MEANS COMPRISING; A FRAME, MEANS TO MOUNT A ROLL OF PRINTED TAPE OF THE TYPE HAVING A CONTINUOUS SURFACE AND CONDUCTIVE REGISTRATION MARKS, MAGNETIC CLUTCH DRIVE MEANS ON SAID FRAME ADAPTED TO ADVANCE SAID TAPE, A MOTOR, OSCILLATING MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID CLUTCH DRIVE MEANS, A KNIFE OSCILLATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO CUT SAID TAPE, ADJACENT MEANS CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID KNIFE, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO REGISTRATION OF SAID PRINTED TAPE TO CONTROL SAID DRIVE MEANS, COMPRISING A PAIR OF FINGER CONTACTS ADAPTED TO COMPLETE A CIRCUIT THROUGH SAID REGISTRATION MARKS AND A FIRST SWITCH IN SERIES WITH SAID CONTACTS, SAID SWITCH BEING OPERABLY CONNECTED TO DISENGAGE SAID MAGSAID CONTACTS BEING CONNECTED TO DISENGAGE SAID MAGNETIC CLUTCH SAID STOP SAID TAPE, AND SAFETY SWITCH MEANS TO KEEP SAID TAPE FEEDING FORWARD IF SAID CONTACT FINGERS MISSES A REGISTRATION MARK COMPRISING, A SECOND SWITCH IN PARALLEL WITH SAID FINGER CONTACTS, AND CAM MEANS CONNECTED TO CLOSE SAID SWITCH IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PREDETERMINED OPERTION TIME OF SAID FINGER CONTACTS. 